Set in the turmoil of WW2, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is a love of bitterness and sweetness book involving a Japanese girl, Keiko, and a Chinese boy, Henry. They strives to keep their relationship and deal with the consequences inflicted upon them by their parents and the war. As the story rolls along, many thoughts occurred that Henry and Keiko would be able to marry, but a twist happens, which results in their separation; unquestionably, Henry and Keiko moves on to have their own family.Therefore, does Henry gives up on Keiko too easily? Yes, Henry give up on Keiko too easily. Henry has his chance of going back to Keiko, but he let it slips by. He tries to forget about Keiko and moves on with his life. Henry thought that his decision is what seems right and the best thing to do. Although many readers may think that Henry does not give up on Keiko too easily as they got reunited at the end, but there were more than just the reuniting. This would eventually prove that Henry give up on Keiko too easily. The Chance of a Lifetime Chances are rare to come by. Depending on one’s decision, it can affect one’s lifetime. Henry consciously, after so long when a second chance is given to him again, let his chance slips by without giving his all. As Henry was talking to Marty at his University, Henry says: “I had my chance, I let her go...I made my decisions...I could found her after the war. I could have hurt Ethel and had what I wanted, but it didn’t seem right. Not then. And not these past few years” (Ford 268). An unforeseen circumstance is given to Henry as another chance. Henry’s decision involving that chance is to marry Ethel and stay true to her; as a result, Henry let Keiko go. However, when it does seem right,... ... middle of paper ... ...o at the end, it does not proved that Henry does not give up on Keiko too easily as it is just a sweetness in the bitterness. In the end, Henry does give up on Keiko too easily. Henry has a chance before and after 40 years, but his final decisions are still the same, letting Keiko go. Henry could have prevented the separation from happening and breaks Ethels heart, but as a soft-hearted person, Henry does just the opposite. He moves on with his life with Ethel and forgets about Keiko. Henry thought that his decisions are what is best and what is right for the both Henry and Keiko. Although reunited at the end of the book, does not suggest that Henry does not give up on Keiko too easily, because the book always have a sweetness along with bitterness. Works Cited Ford, Jamie. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet: A Novel. New York: Ballantine, 2009. Print.
On one end he was ignored by his parents and even disowned, and on the other he was being constantly bullied and put down by his peers who were in their words “fighting the yellow menace”. But one day at school, he encounters a nice, Japanese girl named Keiko Okabe. Keiko and Henry seemed to click almost immediately. This is most likely because they had so much in common. They were both ridiculed horribly in public and by their own peers at school, they both had similar interests, and most importantly they both put aside their ethic pasts and acknowledged that they were indeed American. “That’s where I was born too. I’m Japanese, but American first” (Ford 24). Unlike Henry’s family who refuses to put off their Chinese heritage, Keiko and her family have fully embraced the fact that they are full Americans now and take part fully in American culture. This is shown through the Okabe’s love of jazz or the “colored” music as Henry’s father disdainfully calls. Also, Keiko doesn't even speak Japanese. She only learned English because that what Americans speak and she is American. Henry’s relationship with keiko also brought him out of his shell and showed a new side to his character. Whereas with his father and Marty Henry is quiet and in the background, with Keiko, Henry is much more confident and much more outgoing. He is even willing to smuggle illegal alcohol into a colored jazz club and spend a
Henry’s father is on his death bed; his last words are to Henry: “Wo wi ni zuo,” which translates to “I did it for you,” (Ford 263). For months Henry had sent letters to Keiko and seldom got a reply which lead him to believe that Keiko had lost interest in him and that she had moved on. This caused him much distress and disappointment. Upon hearing
The first time Henry's flaw gets him in trouble is in chapter 10 and when he gets his chance to go into battle he flees. He at first thinks the war is boring but he soon learns that war is very frightening. When Henry flees he also shows insecurity when he tries to make up an excuse for why he wasn't with the rest of the regiment. Henry thinks very poorly of himself at this point and really anyone would run from a war, I don't think he was ready.
...Nao learned the horrible truth that the Haruki she had admired is only the exact opposite of what he is really like. Haruki is a peaceful person who loves to study French literature and secretly detested the war. Instead of sacrificing himself to kill his so-called enemy, he drove his plane into the sea. After Jiko’s funeral, Nao’s father revealed the truth about his job loss: the army thought his design of the video game is very ingenious and want to experiment it in real life. After he refused, he was fired. Astonished by the truth, Nao felt deeply ashamed for what she thought of her father before. Having understood each other, Nao and her father regained hope and decided to live on. She had set goals for her future, return to school to study French, also write the story of Jiko’s life. The ending of the diary is very hopeful and indicated a new beginning for Nao.
"Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while." This quote summarizes Catherine and Henry's love for each other. Even though Catherine died, Henry had a huge space of emptiness left in his heart. Marriages in today's society are very serious relationships although some people don't seem to take them so seriously. Take for example Dennis Rodman, who married Carmen Electra and they divorced a week later. This shows how men are sometimes over powered by looks. My essay contrasts the relationships in Hemingway's Farewell to Arms to the relationships in Steinbeck's East of Eden. E. Hemingway displays a sense of respect for couples whereas J. Steinbeck portrays that women are venerable can't hold a steady relationship. Abra gradually fell in love with Cal and eventually cheated on Aron with his brother Caleb. Cal slowly tries to ruin Aron. Cal influences Abra's thought of Aron by saying sweet things to her. Adam smiled at her. "You're pink as a rose," he said. (590) The passage shows that Cal is trying to romance Abra. He knows Abra is venerable because Aron is away in the army and she misses him. By Aron absent, Abra needs a man and she turns to Cal.
Stanley, D. A. (Ed.). (1999). Novels for Students Volume 7. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Research.
Deck, Alice A. "Beloved: Overview." Reference Guide to American Literature. Ed. Jim Kamp. 3rd ed. Detroit: St. James Press, 1994. Literature Resource Center. Web. 5 May 2014
...a of what his life would have been had he been born and raised by an American Family. This shows that he has been trying to run away from the shadow of his own Culture in an effort to gain acceptance in the American Culture. However, his unruly behavior might have resulted due to the lack of support from his family especially his father. His father’s determination of trying to keep him bounded to the Korean tradition and values might have what actually pushed Henry away. For example, when Henry decides to take an American girl to the Spring Dance, his father justifies her interest in her son due his financial background. He says to Henry, “You real dummy, Henry. Don’t you know? You just free dance ticket. She just using you” (Pg. 74). This illustrates that Henry has been struggling to gain his father’s respect and approval in him but was never able to achieve that.
Booth, Alison, and Kelly J. Mays. The Norton Introduction to Literature. New York: W.W. Norton, 2010. Print.
Evans, Robert C., Anne C. Little, and Barbara Wiedemann. Short Fiction: A Critical Companion. West Cornwall, CT: Locust Hill, 1997. 265-270.
Henry is given a choice to destroy the village or get fired from his job working at the
Though the main character, Kieu, was of good character, she suffered very many heartbreaks and trials throughout her life. Kieu
Henry¹s failure to remember his appointment with Catherine because he was drunk shows that he did not regard Catherine too seriously. However, his surprising sorrow when she is unable to see him shows tha...
Klinkowitz, Jerome and Patricia B Wallace. The Norton Anthology of Americal Literature. Seventh. Vol. Volume D. New York City: Norton, 2007, 2003, 1998, 1994, 1989, 1985, 1979. 5 vols.
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway displays the distraction from pain that love can provide. The characters Frederic Henry and Catherine Barkley use their romance to escape from the agony that war has brought to them. Throughout the novel, the two become isolated from the outside world as their love grows. The theme of love providing a temporary escape from loss is prominent in A Farewell to Arms. However, the distraction of love may bring Catherine and Henry pleasure, but their happiness cannot last.